NBA Trade Rumors: Why the Toronto Raptors should (or shouldn’t) be buyers

Toronto Raptors Pascal Siakam (Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
Toronto Raptors Pascal Siakam (Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
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Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors huddle (John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports)

NBA Trade Rumors: Exploring whether the Toronto Raptors should (or shouldn’t) be buyers at this year’s NBA Trade Deadline.

The Toronto Raptors are having a strange season.

With a top-10 defense and a middle-of-the-pack offense, you would be remiss not to expect the Raptors to be firmly in the top half of the Eastern Conference.

Instead, they’re 13-15 and find themselves planted as the 10th seed in the same company with would-be tankers like the Washington Wizards and the Orlando Magic.

Toronto has lost six of its last eight games including multiple losses to the lowly Magic. There is some speculation that a similarly built Raptors team that last year went 48-34 and finished as the 5th seed in the East, will make some significant changes at the deadline.

Is being a “buyer” a good idea for a Raptors team that has underperformed, or should the franchise exhibit patience with a team ravaged by injuries but still capable of reaching its potential in the second half of the season?

Let’s break it down.